Spring-setting machine



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheefs 1.

B. CLIFF.

SPRING SETTING MACHINE.

A ATTORN EYS.

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E. CLIFF.

SPRING SETTING MACHINE. No. 457,073. PatentedAug. 4, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTORI 5mg w ATTORNEYS.

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(N0 Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

SPRING SETTING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 4, 1891 WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

(No Mcdel.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

, E. CLIFF.

SPRING SETTING MACHINE. No. 457,073. Patented Aug. 4, 18 91.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR: 2

4% ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

E. CLIFF.

SPRING SETTING MAGHINE.

No. 457,073. Patented Aug. 4, 18,91.

N xmN @QO ZQWWW (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet s. I

E. CLIFF.

SPRING SETTING MACHINE. No. 457,073. Patented Aug. 4, 1891.

illlllllllll WITNESSES: INVENTOR. (7% 4% jflfz w 8" ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

EDWARD CLIFF, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SPRING-SETTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,073, dated August 4, 1891.

Application filed November 24, 1890. Serial No. 372,451- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD CLIFF, of Newark, in the county of Essex, in the State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Setting Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to devices employed for imparting the requisite bow or arch shape to the leaves of elliptic and semi-elliptic springsj and the invention consists in an improved organization of a machine which is capable of bowing or arching the spring-leaves to the desired degree in a most eifective and expeditious manner, and is adjustable to operate on spring-leaves of various dimensions.

The invention is fully illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is. an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line a2 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a horizontal transverse section on line y y, Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively enlarged detached front and side views of the central bed-piece of the reciprocating spring-holding bed. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detached front View of another of the bed-pieces of the aforesaid bed. Fig. 8 is afront View of the top portion of the machine, showing the same in its operative position. Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the flexible spring-bending head. Fig. 10 is a horizontal transverse section of the spring-coupling of said bending-head. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the bearing-blocks of said head. Figs. 12 and 13 are side and top plan views of the central bed-piece of the springholding bed, and Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the same seated in the said bed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the main supporting-frame of the machine, which is set in an erect position and rests with its base A on a suitable foundation, and when the machine is arranged to be operated by gears, as shown, the said frame is formed with a wheel-pit A which is set into the ground or foundation.

To the center of the top portion of the frame A is secured a vertical guide G, in which is fitted to slide a hub B, formed integral with or rigidly attached to the center of the under side of the spring-holding bed B. This bed receives a vertical reciprocating motion or up-and-down movement by means of eccentrics F F, fixed to a horizontal shaft 1, which is journaled in suitable hearings on the base of the frame. Pitmen F F connect the eccentrics with the hub B, and rotary motion is imparted to the eccentrics by means of a gearwheel I, with which engages a wormJ, secured to a shaft.) which is journaledin boxes .7" J" on the frame A, and has driving-pulleys H H attached to its ends.

The spring-holdingbed B consists of an elongated frame, in which are sea-ted the bedpieces e e e, the heads of which project above the top of the said frame. Said bed-pieces are contiguous to each other and are clamped in the frame by set-screws f f inserted in opposite ends of the frame and bearing on the outer sides of the two end bed-pieces e c. All of the bed-pieces are adapted to be moved vertically in the frame and to be set so as to cause the tops of said bed-pieces to come to a line more or less arching according to the degree of the arch or crown to be imparted to the spring to be operated on. By means of a series of set-screws ff", inserted in the side of the frame and bearing against the inclosed portions of the bed-pieces e e c, the latter are retained in their adjusted positions. To properly hold thespring s on the reciprocating bed B, I clamp on opposite sides of the central bed-piece 6 two jaws ff, and in order to accommodate springs of various widths I make said jaws adjustable in relation to the width between them. For this purpose I preferably provide the j aws' ff with eyes, which are screwthreaded in opposite directions from each other, and pass transversely loosely through the central bed-piece e a right and left screw g, which Works with its opposite ends in the screw-threaded eyes of the tion the jaws f f are caused torecede from each other to allow the spring 8 to be placed between them, and then by turning the aforesaid screw in the opposite direction the jaws are caused to approach each other and grasp jaws. By turning the screw g in one direcbetween them the spring 8 so as to hold the same firmly in place. In order to insure the retention of the said spring central over the bed-pieces, I 'provide the central bed-piece with shoulders e e" and rigidly secure to the screw 9 a collar g, which is entered between the aforesaid shoulders, and is thereby confined laterally, and thus the screw 9 is prevented from moving longitudinally in the bed-piece e.

Over or in front of the spring-holding bed B, and extending lengthwise thereof, is aflexible spring-bending head, which is normally straight and at right angles to the guide G. Said spring-bending head consists, essentially, of a series of bearing-blocks Z Z Z, distributed in front and lengthwise of the reciprocating spring-holding bed B, and flexible ties connectin g said blocks together and to the frame A. Inasmuch as in the operation of the machine the said flexible spring-bending head is deflected in the shape of an arch by the pressure' of the reciprocating bed B and spring s lying thereon, I form the bearing-blocks Z Z with convex checks Z Z on their adjacent sides to allow said blocks to turn into the different angles which they have to assume in the aforesaid operation of the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

For the flexible ties D and D I prefer to employ suitable wire cables, each of which I bend at the center of its length so as to bring the two end portions parallel side by side. Each of the bearing-blocks Z I provide with two pairs of transverse perforations Z Z, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. Each of the cables passes through one of the pairs of perforations of the bearing-blocks Z Z Z, and is tied at its extremities by a knob or head m on the same.

To allow the normally-straight spring-bending head to be sprung into the shape of an are by the pressure of the reciprocating spring-holding bed B, I connect the said head 'to the frame A by means of suitable spring- .couplings, and also preferably provide said couplings with hinges c c. To insure efficiency in the operation of the said springcouplings, I form each of a box 0, which has trunnions t t on opposite sides and is open at its outer end. Said box is pivoted by its trunnions to the upper ends of arms E E, secured to the front and rear of the top portion of the frame A and extending upward therefrom. In the box O slides a piston O, and between said parts is interposed a stout spiral spring a, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Axially through the said piston and box passes the coupling-bolt b, the inner end of which is connected to the cable D by a hinge c, and the outer end of said coupling-bolt is screw-threaded and provided with a nut '11. By tightening said nut the tension of the spring a, is adjusted to the requisite degree to exert the necessary resistance to the draft of the cables D D incident to the deflection thereof when subjected to the pressure of the spring-holding bed B. The degree of the pressure of the bed B against the flexible spring-bending head is rendered adjustable by regulating the normal distance between the said parts, and for this adjustment I dispose the arms E E with their upper ends inclined outward and connect said arms to the frame by bolts to a, passing through the arms and through slots o o in the frame A, and parallel with the arms, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawings. Said slots allow the arms E E to be raised or lowered to carry the flexible spring-bending head a greater or less distance from the bed B.

Graduated scales 0 r are marked on the edges of the arms E E and adjacent portions of the frame A, by which scales the adj ustment of the said arms can be determined.

For the purpose of cooling the blocks Z Z Z, cables D D, and underlying parts, I extend over the top of the machine parallel with the cables D D a water-supply pipe P, which is provided with nozzles P P, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the blocks ZZI form with vertical grooves o 0 on their adjacent sides to allow the water to pass down to the underlying spring 8 and its supporting-bed B.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 'is- 1. In combination with the frame and reciprocating spring-holding bed, a series of bearing blocks distributed in front and lengthwise of said bed, flexible ties connecting said blocks, and spring-couplings connecting said ties to the frame, as set forth.

2. In combination with the frame A and reciprocating spring-holding bed B, the boxes C O, pivoted to the frame at opposite ends of the said bed, pistons O O, sliding in said boxes, springs a, interposed between the pistons and their respective boxes, flexible ties D D ,connected to said pistons, and bearingblocks Z Z Z, connected to said ties, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the frame A and reciprocating spring-holding bed B, the boxes 0 G, connected to the frame at opposite ends of said bed, pistons O O, springs a (1, hinges c 0, connected to said pistons, flexible tiesD D, connected to said hinges, and bearing-blocks Z Z Z on said ties, as set forth.

4. In combination with the frame A and reciprocating bed B, the arms E E. extending upwardly from the frame and connected to said frame, longitudinally-adj ustable springcouplings connected to said arms, a series of bearing blocks distributed in front and lengthwise of the bed 13, and flexible ties connecting said bearing-blocks together and to said spring-couplings, as set forth.

5. In combination with the frame A and re" ciprocating bed B, the arms E E, extending upwardly from the frame and connected thereto adj ustably longitudinally, the boxes 0 C,

pivoted to said arms, pistons C C in said boxes, springs interposed between said pistons and boxes, flexible tics connected to said pistons, and bearing-blocks connectedto said ties, as set forth.

6. In combination With the frame and reciprocating spring holding bed, the flexible spring-bending head consisting of the separate wire cables D D, connected, respectively, to the frame at opposite ends of the aforesaid bed, a series of bearing-blocks Z Z Z, strung on said cables, and heads on the ends of the cables bearing on opposite ends of the series of bearing-blocks, substantially as set forth.

'7. In combination with the frame and reciprocating spring-holding; bed, the flexible spring-bending head consisting of the series of bearing-blocks ZZZ, having eonvexed checks Z Z and perforations Z" Z, and the wire cables D I), connected to the frame respectively at opposite ends of the spring'holding bed and passing through the perforations of the said bearing-blocks and tied at their free ends to the ends of the series of blocks, substantially as described and show 8. In combination with spring'holding' bed, the spring-bending head provided with slots extending vertically through said head, and

the water-supply pipe P, com munieating With said slots, as set forth.

9. In combination with the spring-holding bed, the bearing-blocks flexibly connected together and formed with eonvexed checks Z Z and grooves 0 o, and the water-snpply-pipe P, having nozzles P P communicating with the grooves 0 o, substantially as described and shown.

10. In combination with the frame A, reeiprocating spring-holding bed B, and flexible spring-bending head D D Z, the boxes 0 O, pistons O O, springs a cz,interposed between said boxes and pistons, the coupling-bolts Z) 12, passing through the pistons and boxes and connected at their inner ends to the flexible spring-bending head and screw-threaded at their outer ends, and adjusting-nuts n n on said outer ends of the coupling-bolts, as and for the purpose set fortl In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 15th daypf November, 1890.

EDWARD CLIFF. [n s.]

Vitnesses:

MARK W. DEWEY, H. M. SEAMANS. 

